Though Watson Township does not take part in the Allegan County recycling program, Resource Recovery Director Ben Williams rolled out the welcome mat Thursday night at the Township Board meeting.

Williams made a pitch to Watson officials with a slide presentation and by answering questions about what may be ahead for the recycling program in the county, even at the Aug. 2 primary election.

He said 19 municipalities participate in the surcharge of $25 per year per residence to pay for services, which in places such as the City of Wayland and Dorr and Leighton townships offers curbside recycling. He agreed that curbside recycling is not a practical option for Watson Township, but he suggested the $25 per year surcharge program might be what it needs.

Under current conditions the township takes more than $9,000 out of its general fund budget to pay for having a drop-off site in the township hall parking lot. The site is emptied every two weeks, but Township Supervisor Pam Brown indicated it too often is overflowing, and some residents do not observe the rules and dump trash, tires and even couches and televisions on site or in a nearby ditch.

“We have had consistent violations,” the supervisor acknowledged. “But it’s used a lot. I hear the cars coming in and out constantly (when working in the township hall).”

Williams said the Township Board could vote to join the county program, have the $25 per household per year surcharge, for which residents are allowed to opt out, and received the services of the Salem Township transfer station that is open two days a month to accept as many as four tires, scrap metal, polystyrene and two large appliances.

The county recycling service also conducts a hazardous household waste day for residents to drop off aerosol cans, paint and other waste items, and it costs the county about $13,500. The day last year in Wayland attracted 325 cars that unloaded 22,000 pounds of old electronic items and 10,872 pounds of household hazardous waste.

Watson Township Planning Commission Chairwoman Melissa Harris calculated there about 750 households in the township, so a $25 surcharge would bring in between $18,000 and $19,000, which is nearly twice as much as Watson now is paying for with its general fund.

Of course, residents would be able to opt out of the program, which would lower the estimated revenue.

Brown noted that it might be difficult to get residents to do the right thing and pay the surcharge because they are not paying out of pocket for what they get now. However, she acknowledged that the vast majority of Watson’s surrounding neighbors are participating in the surcharge program with good results.

Harris asked Williams, “Can we do just a year commitment and try it to see how it works?”

He said it certainly was possible.

No decision was made Thursday evening, but the board will continue to wrestle with the issue at least until this spring.

PHOTO: Ben Williams